During the study process, a short online questionnaire was distributed widely (see Figure B.1) to draw upon the expertise and experience of the polar community. The questions provided an opportunity for respondents to identify the most important science questions for the coming decades and to share thoughts on the “next generation” of polar scientists. Following a short set of general background questions (career stage, scientific discipline), questionnaire respondents were asked the following questions:

• Within your own defined discipline, please list 3 important scientific questions that you believe will drive research in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean over the next 20 years.

• Across all disciplines, please list 3 important scientific questions that you believe will drive research in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean over the next 20 years.

• Please list any technology, infrastructure, or innovative logistics that you believe will play a major role in future research efforts in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean (including new, emerging technologies).

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APPENDIX B
Summary of Online
Questionnaire Results
D
uring the study process, a short online questionnaire was distributed widely
(see Figure B.1) to draw upon the expertise and experience of the polar com-
munity. The questions provided an opportunity for respondents to identify the
most important science questions for the coming decades and to share thoughts on
the “next generation” of polar scientists. Following a short set of general background
questions (career stage, scientific discipline), questionnaire respondents were asked
the following questions:
• Within your own defined discipline, please list 3 important scientific questions
that you believe will drive research in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean over
the next 20 years.
• Across all disciplines, please list 3 important scientific questions that you be-
lieve will drive research in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean over the next 20
years.
• Please list any technology, infrastructure, or innovative logistics that you
believe will play a major role in future research efforts in Antarctica and the
Southern Ocean (including new, emerging technologies).
FIGURE B.1 Geographic locations of questionnaire respondents.
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APPENDIX B
• How did you get into Antarctic and/or Southern Ocean science? Are similar
pathways available to others today?
• Are you able to find suitable candidates (number, quality) for the Post-Doc
positions you have available? If not, why?
• Are you able to find suitable candidates for the graduate student positions
you have available? If not, why?
• Is there a “next generation of scientists” who will be able to continue to ad-
vance your scientific field for the next 20 years?
The questionnaire was distributed to approximately 1,000 people via various Antarctic
and Arctic email distribution lists. There were a total of 205 respondents representing
a variety of disciplines and backgrounds. Questionnaire respondents included gradu-
ate students (pre-Ph.D.) and early-career scientists, midcareer scientists, and late-ca-
reer scientists (see Figure B.2). Most of the respondents have conducted field work in
Antarctica and the Arctic. A number of questionnaire takers have conducted fieldwork
in the Southern Ocean, and there were also respondents who have worked on model-
ing in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean (see Figure B.3).
Respondents represented a range of disciplines that were grouped into eight catego-
ries, as shown in Table B.1.
Questionnaire respondents were asked to identify three important science questions
that will drive research in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean over the next 20 years.
Approximately 600 answers to this question were received and they were grouped
FIGURE B.2 Distribution of the various career stages of questionnaire respondents.
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Appendix B
FIGURE B.3 Questionnaire respondents have conducted fieldwork in both Antarctica and the Arctic. Some
have also conducted fieldwork in the Southern Ocean and are involved in modeling or related research.
Note that questionnaire respondents were permitted to select more than one option to answer the ques-
tion, “Where have you conducted research?”
TABLE B.1 Respondents Represented a Range of Disciplines That Were Grouped into
Eight Categories
Discipline Respondents (%)
Biology and ecosystems 36
Oceans and acidification 16
Geology 15
Astronomy and space physics 12
Ice and sea level rise 10
Atmosphere and climate 6
Technology 3
Other (incl. policy, psychology, art) 2
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APPENDIX B
into the following 14 themes: global climate change and sea level rise, ice sheets, ice
shelves, Southern Ocean, sea ice, paleoclimate, atmosphere and climatology, biology,
space weather and astronomy, geology, interdisciplinary question, extreme environ-
ments, scientific process, and human elements.
Respondents who identified themselves as a principal investigator (PI) or co-PI were
asked how they originally began their career in Antarctic science and if those path-
ways are still available to others today. Approximately one-third of respondents be-
came involved as a graduate student and, if undergraduate and postdoctoral experi-
ences are included, this makes up about 50 percent of respondents. About 15 percent
indicated that they became involved via an established colleague, and 10 percent
answered that they wrote a proposal that was funded.
PIs were also asked if they were able to find the postdocs and graduate students that
they needed. Over half said that they were able to find postdocs and graduate stu-
dents. When asked if there was a “next generation” of scientists that would advance
the scientific field, approximately three-quarters said yes (see Figure B.4).
Although this exercise was useful to inform the committee about the lessons learned,
general concerns, and future goals of a broad cross section of scientists (with various
experience levels and disciplines), this was not a systematic survey and the results
should not be used as an official statement for the scientific community.
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Appendix B
FIGURE B.4 Responses to the online questionnaire question regarding the availability of postdoctoral
researchers, graduate students, and more generally a “next generation of scientists.” The majority of re-
spondents indicated that there is a next generation to carry the science forward in the coming decades.
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